Wokingham · England
Film and TV set catering in California, Wokingham
From the smell of the fryers to the last chip in the paper, a fish and chip van for the crew makes the food a highlight of your shoot in California.
- Location shoots
- Outside broadcasts
- Crew treats on long shoot days
Film set catering in California
About our film set catering in California
On a long job, a chip van day is a morale boost. For live events and broadcasts and crew treats on long shoot days, we can cook mushy peas, pie and chips and haddock and chips.
Near California, crews may be miles from anywhere to eat, so a van at base is a big help. The menu is short on purpose: fewer choices means fresher food and shorter queues.
DIY versus a fish and chip van
Ordering in from a local chip shop is an option. Large orders are slow, and the food cools in the bags. A van solves that by cooking on site.
Doing the food yourself saves money, but the host ends up running around. With a fish and chip van, you get hot food without the work.
Places near California
What else we do in California
Common questions in California
How far is California from London?
About 35 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you come out to small places like California?
Not at all. We serve villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and the ground.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We take the van and everything with it, and leave the spot tidy. It helps to have bins near the hatch.
Do you have allergen information?
Tell us about allergies when you book, and we’ll tell you what’s in each item and what we can offer.
Do you do wrap parties?
Yes, and crews love it. Tell us the details.
What will the production need?
Tell us what the production needs and we’ll confirm what we can provide.
Is everything cooked fresh?
Yes. We cook inside the van, so it’s fried on the spot, not cooked earlier and kept warm.
How long does set-up take?
It depends on numbers and the service time. We agree arrival, serving and finishing times with you before the day.
Organising for someone else?
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: parking spots, arrival times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work through them with you.
For larger numbers, tell us how long you have for food, so we can plan how to keep the queue short. Sending people up in groups helps.
Looking after everyone
With a little notice, diets are easier to plan for. We suggest:
- Plan bins and waste at base
- Flag any coeliac crew
- Have a back-up for special diets
- Confirm allergies by email
Fewer choices mean faster service in a lunch break.
Bins at base keep the location clean.
What comes out of the fryer
Gravy
In the north and the Midlands, gravy is the side of choice, and it goes perfectly with a pie.
Curry sauce
Curry sauce divides opinion, so we bring it along.
Why choose a fish and chip van in California?
Wrap parties add up. A van keeps it relaxed and simple. Distance and any road charges make a difference, so tell us exactly where your shoot is.
Why book our van in California
- Rain does not stop the fryers
- A van that becomes part of the event
- Nothing for you to cook or clear
- We cover California and the whole of Wokingham
Take a look at our prices page and the cost guide.
California for film and TV crews
California is about 3 miles south-west of Wokingham, in Wokingham. We serve shoots at homes, halls, workplaces and venues in California and the surrounding area. We cover 35 places in Wokingham. We serve events right across the region, from California to Reading (7 miles away).
For crew arriving by train, Crowthorne station, about 2.4 miles east, is the nearest station.
We take the van to shoots all over the RG40 postcode area. Whether your shoot is on Warren Lane, White Horse Lane and Fernbank or a nearby road, we can park up and fry there. Other places close to California we cover include Arborfield Garrison (1 mile west), Finchampstead (1 mile south-east), Barkham (1 mile north), Langley Common (1 mile north-west) and Eversley (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Reading (7 miles north-west), Wokingham (3 miles north-east), Woodley (5 miles north), Earley (5 miles north-west), Crowthorne (3 miles east) and Lower Earley (4 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Beaumys Castle (4.7 miles west) and Wokingham Hospital (2.6 miles north-east). The countryside around California includes Horseshoe Lake and Holt Copse & Joel Park.
- Local schools include Bohunt School Wokingham (1 mile west)
- Local pubs include The Queen's Oak pub (0.7 miles south-east)
Where the van can park in California
The right spot keeps everyone safe and the service smooth. We look for:
- Space in front of the hatch
- A clear route to base
- A level, firm spot at the unit base
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
What we serve
- Cod and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Crew lunches
- Mushy peas
- Pie and chips
- Sausage and chips
What affects the price in California
The same numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- How far we travel
- Service time
- How many people are eating
- Cod, haddock or both
Larger groups typically cost less per head, because the van, travel and set-up cost much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
What we need to know
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Where the van would park
- Where the event is
- A photo of the space and the way in
- Dietary needs, with numbers
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, address, numbers and serving time. You can fill in our quote form.
Step by step
Here’s how the day normally runs: the van arrives and we set up, the fryers heat up, and food goes out hot when you are ready to eat. Daylight is short on winter shoots near California: sunset is about 3:55pm, so lunch at base is frequently in daylight but a wrap meal isn’t.
- Send us your date, numbers and address.
- We check the route in and send a price.
- We arrive early to park and heat the fryers.
- Everything is fried to order as the queue moves.
- Service is straight from the hatch, then we pack up.
Preparing for the day
- Choose a level, firm spot for the van
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
- Make sure the van can get in
Get a quote
Thinking about a fish and chip van for the crew for your shoot in California? Send us the details and we will come back with a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Related guides
- Fried fresh to order in the van at your event
- Cod, haddock and chips, sausages and pies
- The van comes to you: homes, venues, workplaces and fields
- Served at the time you choose, from the hatch